The Liberty City Democratic Club held its endorsement meeting last week, lending its support to a number of pro-LGBT candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot.
About 30 members came together for the endorsement meeting Oct. 6 at the William Way LGBT Community Center, where they heard about the platforms and plans of a number of candidates in attendance.
Liberty City co-chair Lee Carson said membership turnout was lower than usual for an endorsement meeting, but that, given the city’s overwhelming Democratic majority that often makes the spring primary the deciding election, it was expected.
Leading the club’s slate of endorsements is Mayor Nutter for reelection, along with a reelection nod for Councilwoman Maria Quiñones Sánchez. The group endorsed 1st District Council candidate Mark Squilla, running unopposed in the district that includes the Gayborhood; 2nd District hopeful state Rep. Kenyatta Johnson and 8th District candidate Cindy Bass, who have a Republican and Green Party challenger, respectively.
Liberty City endorsed four Democratic at-Large Council candidates — incumbent Councilmembers Blondell Reynolds Brown, Bill Green, Bill Greenlee and James Kenney — but did not support a fifth incumbent, Councilman W. Wilson Goode Jr., who Carson said was unable to attend a Liberty City meeting, a prerequisite for endorsement.
The group didn’t endorse Greenlee in the municipal primary, Carson said, but after further discussion decided to back him in this election.
The club endorsed Stephanie Singer for city commissioner, who will square off with a Republican and Democratic incumbent and a Republican challenger for one of the three commissioner positions.
In the judicial races, Liberty City is supporting Kathryn Boockvar for Commonwealth Court, and Diana Anhalt, Jonathan Irvine, Angelo Foglietta, Carolyn Nichols and Barbara McDermott, an open lesbian, for Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. The club also endorsed Keith Collins for Delaware County Council.
The membership decided against endorsing judicial candidates up for retention.
Liberty City will host its fall fundraiser from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 1 at Stir, 1705 Chancellor St., with proceeds going to support the club’s voter mobilization for the spring primary.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].